After extensive consultation with the industry, organisers are confident the overhaul offers a greater scope for entrants.

Alasdair Northrop, editor of Insider, said: "We want to have as much competition as possible so this year the judging is different.

"In the past, we have had written applications and while that is being retained we are introducing an interview element. Judges felt they did not get all the answers they needed from the written format and wanted to be absolutely sure they are making the right decision and choosing the right people. "We think it will make the awards much more valid and a worthwhile exercise for the industry."

Chief judge Kai McCabe said:"We had some people in from the industry to talk about what they liked about the awards and what they felt could be improved.

"Therefore, categories were changed on that basis. We had problems last year, for example, comparing a temp consultant in the IT market to someone in the office services market. We just didn't think we were comparing apples with apples.

"That is why we have come up with these new categories and we feel it is a very positive move. We wanted the interview process because, as judges, choosing winners on paper is very difficult.

"We also want to make sure these people can talk the talk, walk the walk and represent the profession in a positive light."